Long Service Award for Museum Volunteers

Celebrating Our Volunteers: Annual Awards Ceremony Recognises Dedication and Service

This October, we gathered to celebrate our extraordinary volunteers. The annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony provided a special opportunity to recognise the passion and enthusiasm of our volunteer crew.

As an independent museum and charity, we operate without government funding for our day-to-day activities. This means our small but dedicated staff team works alongside an incredible volunteer force who collectively contribute over 30,000 hours each year. Their generosity allows us to open our doors, share maritime heritage, and inspire visitors from near and far.

The newly elected Museum Board Chair Dr Patrick Newberry attended to personally thank our volunteers for their invaluable contributions.

“It was such a joy to meet the volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time to the museum,” Dr Newberry shared. “They are such an important part of the organisation, and I very much look forward to ensuring they get as much out of their roles as we do from having them here.”

Honouring 20 Years of Service

A highlight of the event was recognising Mary Owen’s remarkable milestone. Patrick presented Mary with a certificate and a gold volunteer long service badge to commemorate her 20 years with the museum – a journey that began shortly after we first opened our doors.

Patrick commented: “I was honoured to present Mary with a certificate and special gold badge, personally thanking her for all her hard work. For me, volunteers like Mary are one of the reasons the museum is so special – they bring passion, enthusiasm and a range of experiences and skills that we can’t help but be inspired by.”

Become a Volunteer

If you’d like to become part of our volunteer community and help preserve and share maritime heritage, we welcome applications throughout the year.

Find out more information about volunteering opportunities or speak with our team at the Admissions desk.